Westfield High School officials consider adding bus stop because of unsafe walking conditions in Prospect Street Extension area

WESTFIELD – School officials are considering adding a bus stop to accommodate a small group of walking students to Westfield High School because of a lack of sidewalk and the presence of unsafe walking conditions.

A petition was presented to the School Committee last week by Ward 1 City Councilor Christopher Keefe on behalf of residents in the Prospect Street Extension neighborhood.

“We are awaiting the School Department decision, and the request is based on the lack of sidewalks and unsafe walking conditions, especially during winter months,” Keefe said.

“This is not the end of the world, but when winter comes these youngsters will be walking to school in the dark, and it is possible it will be dark on their return walk home,” said Keefe.

“We understand school policy concerning busing, but some exceptions do become necessary,” the councilor said.

One resident who initiated the petition request, Karen G. Blake, of 92 Kane Brothers Circle, called the situation “an accident waiting to happen.

“There are seven kids on our street that walk to and from the high school, and nine families signed the petition,” she said.

Blake and Keefe said that a school bus that passes the Kane Brothers Circle neighborhood has unfilled seats, and the request is that the seven students be picked up and dropped off providing there is room on the bus.

The subdivisions in that neighborhood are relatively new, and the seven students are freshmen at Westfield High School located a short distance away on Montgomery Street.

School Transportation Director Pamela J. Kotarski confirmed the request is under consideration.

She explained transportation policy provides busing to students who live two miles away from the high school. The request comes from parents of students who live less than 1.5 miles from the school, she noted.

“This is nothing new,” Kotarski said of requests for additional busing. “We are looking at the request. It is under consideration,” she said.

Blake said because sidewalks are absent in at least part of the travel from home to the high school, students will be forced to deal with snow banks and other hazards of winter.